I 



DICOTYLEDONS 



* RANUNCULACE^E 



Examples : 



* ANEMONE RIVULARIS, Ham., the common white 

 anemone of our hill stations. 



The plant has a short thick root- stock (or vertical 

 rhizone) with an erect branching stem, above ground. 



Leaves radical and divided into three wedge-shaped 

 parts which may be again three lobed. Flowers on 

 long branches, with a pair of three-fid bracts a few 

 inches below each. Sepals from five to eight in 

 number, k to 1 inch long, white. Petals absent (see 

 ch. xviii, sect. 2). Stamens very numerous. Ovary 

 in the centre of the raised thalamus, of several free 

 carpels each in fruit containing one seed, so that the 

 fruit consists of a number of achenes. Both stamens 

 and carpels are arranged spirally on the thalamus, not 

 in two circles. 



Another species of this genus is often grown in gardens 

 under the name ' Japanese Anemone ' (A. JAPONICA). 



* THALICTRUM JAVANICUM, BL, the Meadow Rue of 

 South Indian hills, is distinguished from Anemone by 

 not having the three bracts on the stalk of each flower. 

 It is interesting because not only has it no petals, but 

 the four sepals fall off when they open out, so that 



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